Brave

A Year Without Rain

|Hunter's P O V|
We just got back from Nationals yesterday, which we won, it was amazing. I finally get to bringing my suitcase upstairs and unpacking.
I hear a knock on the door, my parents walk inside, both of them.
"You'll be needing to pack that suitcase back up soon sweetie." my mom says. I'm confused, "What do you mean?" I ask. They look at each other and nod, now I'm starting to get worried.
"Son, I know you may not want to hear this, but we're all moving back to Madison, my job needs me there."
I shake my head at my dad in denial, "No, no you promised me the move here would be our last move, I don't want to go back, I love it here."
"We're sorry, but-"
I cut my mom off, "No, no, when are we leaving?" I ask,
"In three weeks, so you still have time to spend with your friends here before we have to go." my mom says.
I can't believe this, I spent all this time making new friends here, I've grown so attached to everything here, now I need to leave again. I need to leave my friends, and Eldon. I finally get a boyfriend who I love so much, and I have to leave him behind.
"Can't I just stay here by myself or something?" I insist, there's no way I'm leaving here.
"In a year when you turn eighteen you can come back here, but for now we're still responsible for you, so you're coming with us to Madison. Don't push me Hunter, just start to say goodbye to this place and start to get packed for Madison. We'll talk more about this tomorrow, get some sleep for now." my dad says. They leave my room and shut the door, I throw my suitcase across the floor, this can't be happening.
They said we were done moving,
This has to be a joke, right?
This can't be real, they, they can't do this to me.
I can't leave Eldon behind... how am I supposed to tell him I'm going all the way to Madison?
I can't go without seeing him in person for a whole year, this can't happen, I don't want to lose him.
I'll tell him soon, I can't let him worry about this so early, especially with the Internationals auditions in two weeks.

|Eldon's P O V|
I call Hunter, our studio is being evicted, this is really bad.
"Hunter! This is bad." I say, I hear movement through the phone,
"What is it?" Hunter asks, his voice soft.
"The Next Step is being evicted, we have to share the studio with Elite if we want to stay... and we have to compete against them for the spots now. That's even more competition with even higher stakes."
"That sucks, how's it gonna work?" Hunter asks, his voice dull, he seems upset but I can ask him about that another time.
"Well twelve Next Step people are gonna go against twelve Elite people in a dance battle style, which ever team gets more members on it is the winner, but everyone who wins the individual battles is for sure going to stay."
I sigh, "I just don't want to go against someone from our studio, it would suck to steal one of our friends spots."
Hunter doesn't respond,
"Hello?" I ask,
"What?" Hunter replies.
"Is everything okay?" I ask, concerned about him.
"Yeah, I'm just tired, it's been a long day, I think I'll be going to bed now. Good night, I love you."
My phone starts to beep, he hung up.
That was weird.
We have auditions in two weeks and he doesn't seem to care?
He must just be tired, that has to be it. He'll be back to his usual self tomorrow.

|Michelle's P O V|
I walk with Emily to her doctor's office. She's getting her knee looked at, she needs to know if she can dance. I feel so bad for her, there's only one week until auditions, and we can't have a team without her.
Being with Emily is a good distraction from my home life. My parents aren't talking much, I don't know what's going on. They shut the doors when they do talk, everything's always so secretive. I don't want to worry about it, but I can't help but have this sinking feeling something is definitely going to be changing soon.
"I really hope I can dance, I will literally die if I can't go to internationals." Emily says, barely able to walk without limping. She grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers, she's been really open about us lately and it's really nice.
"You'll be fine, and you're going to internationals with me. The office is right there, I'm sure the doctor will say you're clear." I insist, trying to reassure Emily with a smile, she glances at the building nervously,
"I sure hope so." she says.
When we get inside I sit down on a chair in the waiting area, Emily is shaking beside me, I can't imagine how anxious she must be right now. She's about to find out if she can dance.

|Emily's P O V|
"Emily?" I hear the doctor call, I nod and nervously walk into her office, she shuts the door behind her.
When the X-ray comes back, I can't tell what the doctor is thinking when she's looking at it. I just want to know if I can dance or not.
"So can I dance?"
The doctor turns her attention to me, she shakes her head,
"No, certainly not. We're looking at six months to a year before your injury fully heals. If you dance on it, you might permenantly damage it, which means no dancing or sports ever again."
My heart sinks, I can't believe I have to wait a year before I can dance again, that means I'm out for a whole season.
I can't not be on the internationals team, I worked so hard for this, this can't be the end.
"So what if I were to dance on it?" I ask.
"Well, probably nothing if you're careful, but if you do injure it at all, it's game over. The risk is too big for you to take it. You are not cleared to be dancing, okay?" the doctor says, her eyebrow raised.
I smile and nod, "Okay. Thank you."
I leave the doctors office and I put on a smile, I'm heartbroken inside, but I still have to try to dance. I can't give up, I'll be fine.
"So...?"
"I'm cleared, I can dance." I announce, smiling big. Michelle doesn't look convinced,
" No you aren't..." she says,
I pause, "What do you mean I-"
She grabs my hand and we leave the building,
"Don't lie to me, you aren't clear are you?" Michelle asks, staring at me, waiting for me to admit I can't dance.
"You can't tell anyone okay? I'm not exactly cleared... but I'm still gonna dance."
Michelle pulls her hand out of mine,
"Are you crazy? You can't dance Emily, I don't want you getting even more hurt."
I shake my head, "I've got this under control. Trust me."